Early Years Key Worker - IKEA Reading

Keyworker – Early Years Practitioner

Location: IKEA Reading
Hours: 30 hours per week, Monday–Sunday on a rota basis

Salary: £14.46 per hour
Reports to: Crèche Manager

Role Purpose

As an IKEA Key Worker, you will be responsible for providing high-quality care and engaging play experiences for children aged 3–10 years, whilst supporting the safe, effective and compliant day-to-day operation of the crèche.

You will take responsibility for the operation of the crèche in the absence of the Crèche Manager, acting as a key point of contact for colleagues, parents, IKEA colleagues and My Ohana support teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a safe, inclusive and engaging environment for children, delivering age-appropriate play and activities.
• Support the planning and delivery of a programme of activities and promote positive experiences for all children.
• Ensure children are appropriately supervised and that safeguarding and welfare requirements are maintained at all times.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with children, parents, colleagues and clients.
• Take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the crèche in the Manager's absence.
• Ensure required health and safety checks, opening and closing procedures and risk assessments are completed, escalating concerns appropriately.
• Ensure staffing ratios, qualifications and other statutory requirements are maintained and colleagues are deployed effectively.
• Organise colleague breaks and support the arrangement of staffing cover where required, including agency cover.
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues and appropriately manage or escale colleague conflict and performance concerns.
• Respond appropriately to complaints, incidents and safeguarding concerns, ensuring these are recorded and escalated in line with My Ohana procedures.
• Support children with additional needs, ensuring appropriate care plans and risk assessments are in place where required.
• Ensure relevant systems, records, paperwork and confidential information are managed appropriately.
• Maintain awareness of applicable statutory frameworks and regulatory requirements and ensure these are followed.
• Liaise with My Ohana Operations, the People Team and IKEA Duty Manager as required.
• Escalate any matter outside the scope of the Keyworker's responsibility to the appropriate Manager or support team.

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Experience working with children aged 3–10 years.
• Minimum Level 3 childcare qualification or Playworker Level 3 qualification (pre-2014).
• Experience working confidently and independently within a childcare environment.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child welfare.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children, parents and colleagues.
• Ability to support and guide colleagues and take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the crèche.
• Ability to remain calm, organised and make appropriate decisions in a busy environment.
• Understanding of health and safety, staffing ratios and relevant statutory requirements.
• Confidence using relevant IT systems and following My Ohana procedures.
• Flexible, caring, enthusiastic and professional approach.

Keyworker Accountability

As a keyworker, you will be expected to take ownership of the safe and effective operation of the crèche when the Crèche Manager is unavailable, being confident and able to manage day-to-day operational matters, and confident in lines of reporting to Operations or Central Support.

As a keyworker, you will be required to complete the relevant Keyworker training and sign-off before undertaking the full responsibilities of the role.